"About what?"
She stroked his face with soft, gentle hands. "About what's bothering you, darling. Something terrible is happening to you."
"There's nothing wrong."
"You're such a bad liar, darling. I can see it in your face."
"Only that?"
"It's enough. That is, when you care for a guy."
"You're sticking your chin out, baby."
"No, I'm not. You're really a very gentle person. But you want to be hard as nails, don't you, Matt?"
"I don't know what I want to be, baby. I'd like to see the world a good place for little guys who like republics. I'd like to kill the bastards who are fouling up such a world. It sounds very big, I know. But I'm not big. I'm a little guy and I like the world of little people. Or don't I make sense?"
"I think I understand you, Matt."